COAST unveils rochester-pease route

PORTSMOUTH — COAST announced a new direct-service route from Rochester to Pease International Tradeport.

PORTSMOUTH — COAST announced a new direct-service route from Rochester to Pease International Tradeport.

The Route 20 bus will run Monday through Friday. Cost is $1.50 a ride or $52 for a monthly pass. Rochester residents who work at Pease and drive alone spend an estimated $500 a month, according to the AAA "Your Driving Costs," 2013.

In addition to saving money and wear and tear on a car, riding the bus gives commuters a chance to relax, text, meet new people, or close their eyes while someone else does the driving. Riding transit also helps reduce traffic congestion on the Little Bay bridges and reduces vehicle emissions.

In the morning, the Route 20 bus starts at Rochester City Hall at 7:13 a.m., departs the Lowe's parking lot at 7:20 a.m. and arrives at Pease to begin making drop-offs by 7:47 a.m.

Going north in the afternoon, the Route 20 bus travels through the tradeport making pickups between 5:15 and 5:22 p.m., before heading north on the Spaulding Turnpike and arriving at Lowe's at 5:50 p.m. and City Hall at 5:57 p.m. Stops within Pease are made by request to the bus operator or by flagging/waving the bus down as it approaches where one is standing along the route.

Route 20 also creates a new direct afternoon connection from Rochester to The Mall at Fox Run, Monday through Friday. It leaves City Hall at 4:27 p.m. and the Lilac Mall at 4:30 p.m., and arrives at The Mall at Fox Run at 5 p.m. Shoppers returning to Rochester would take the Route 2 North bus.

Bus riders can also now take advantage of the new Emergency Ride Home program. This is one of the benefits offered to employees of firms and organizations that are members of the newly formed commute SMARTseacoast, the regional Transportation Management Association. Membership is free. If a bus commuter has an emergency during work, such as personal or family illness or unscheduled overtime, he or she can take a cab or rental car and be reimbursed for some or all of the costs of the ride for a maximum of six times a year.

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